Gilchrist rates his knocks against India the best

New Delhi, March 15 (IANS) Adam Gilchrist has torn apart the world’s best bowling attacks, but the swashbuckling batsman Saturday admitted the centuries against India were the most relished because it came against an opposition who were not prepared to concede an inch. Gilchrist rated his centuries against India as some of his best that gave him a sense of relief and satisfaction because of the quality of the opposition.

The Australian, who retired from international cricket during the tri-series, said India have come up as a worthy challenger to the world champions in the past few years and their Test rivalry is one of the greatest today.

“The Border-Gavaskar trophy is undoubtedly the most high profile Test series. Some of our greatest struggles have come against India. It was always a sense relief, a sense of achievement to score against India. They were hard and played tough cricket. To win against India has been a tough and challenging task,” Gilchrist said at the India Today conclave.

“When I came here in 2001 and scored a century in the Mumbai Test, we were on a high. Australia had won 16 consecutive Test matches, a world record. Cricket and life was going well for me till the Eden Gardens Test happened and we lost,” Gilchrist said going down memory lane and remembering this day, March 15, which ushered a new era in cricket when India battled a follow on to beat Australia in the second Test.

Gilchrist said everything changed after the Eden result and playing India was tough both home and away.

“We came back in 2004 and I scored a century in Bangalore. In three years, many things had changed. We had realised the challenge of facing India,” Gilchrist said as he showed images of both his centuries.

“The Mumbai hundred had a sense of satisfaction, but three years later in Bangalore, it was an even bigger achievement. It was a huge hundred, one of my greatest knocks because India were pushing us both home and away.”

He said that winning the 2004 series is one of his biggest achievements of his career.

“I was leading the side in the 2004 series and we won it. It was a huge achievement for the team and for me.”

He said he enjoyed every bit of the rivalry between the two sides.

“India and Australia are great rivals and great competitors. There is a clash of cultures. There is a desire to win and so sparks will fly. Young players wanting their team to win, getting into a verbal joust and challenging each other. As long as it does not cross the boundary, there should not be a problem.”